Media personality Somizi Mhlongo is facing scrutiny as legal action is taken against his business, Search Light (Pty) Ltd, due to claims of unpaid employee wages.
“They used to operate from Sandton, but it looks like they’ve moved out. The sheriff went there three times and found no one. We later received information that they now work from home,” Putswe shared with the media.
Records from the Randburg Magistrate’s Court show that the sheriff was unable to execute the enforcement order because “the respondent has no movable goods at the given address,” as noted by a receptionist.
The sheriff made his visits on September 22, 23, and 29, with the last attempt revealing a sign stating the office was abandoned.
Putswe mentioned that they are considering different strategies to recover assets belonging to Search Light.
“We are now exploring other avenues to seize their assets as per the enforcement order. And we know they may still have an office at the Carlton Centre,” he remarked.
The conflict began in April 2025 when multiple employees alleged Somizi and his business partners unjustly terminated their employment.
The workers stated that they were dismissed without proper notification or a hearing.
“We were unfairly dismissed in April this year without any warning or hearing. We took the matter to the CCMA, which ruled in our favour for April, May, and June salaries,” one of the affected workers explained.
In spite of the CCMA ruling, Search Light reportedly neglected to pay the owed wages, leading the individuals to request an enforcement order.
This order permitted the sheriff to seize and auction the company’s assets to collect R165,402.62, along with interest.
Somizi and Lindo Maleho are listed as directors of Search Light (Pty) Ltd, a cleaning services business that is said to have supplied staff to Transnet at the Carlton Centre.
Initially, when reports emerged in July, Somizi chose not to comment but later took to Instagram to appear to deny any affiliation with the business.
“I just found out I own a company I never had. Mzansi for sho,” he wrote.
